1,427,796 research outputs found
Star Formation in Dwarf Galaxies of the Nearby Centaurus A Group
We present Halpha narrow-band imaging of 17 dwarf irregular galaxies (dIs) in
the nearby Centaurus A Group. Although all large galaxies of the group have a
current or recent enhanced star formation episode, the dIs have normal star
formation rates and do not contain a larger fraction of dwarf starbursts than
other nearby groups. Relative distances between dIs and larger galaxies of the
group can be computed in 3D since most of them have now fairly accurately known
distances. We find that the dI star formation rates do not depend on local
environment, and in particular they do not show any correlation with the
distance of the dI to the nearest large galaxy of the group. There is a clear
morphology-density relation in the Centaurus A Group, similarly to the Sculptor
and Local Groups, in the sense that dEs/dSphs tend to be at small distances
from the more massive galaxies of the group, while dIs are on average at larger
distances. We find four transition dwarfs in the Group, dwarfs that show
characteristics of both dE/dSphs and dIs, and which contain cold gas but no
current star formation. Interestingly the transition dwarfs have an average
distance to the more massive galaxies which is intermediate between those of
the dEs/dSphs and dIs, and which is quite large: 0.54 +- 0.31 Mpc. This large
distance poses some difficulty for the most popular scenarios proposed for
transforming a dI into a dE/dSph (ram-pressure with tidal stripping or galaxy
harassment). If the observed transition dwarfs are indeed missing links between
dIs and dE/dSphs, their relative isolation makes it less likely to have been
produced by these mechanisms. We propose that an inhomogeneous IGM containing
higher density clumps would be able to ram-pressure stripped the dIs at such
large distances.Comment: 57 pages, 10 fi5gure
Evolution on large-scale plasma structures in comets: Kinematics and physics
The disconnection event (DE) consists of the periodic loss of a comet's entire plasma tail and the growth of a new one. This spectacular phenomenon is not understood. The strategy was to assemble a data base of specific events studied in detail, determine the solar wind conditions responsible for DEs, and develop a consistent physical model. Analysis is complete for the sequence of DEs that took place during 13 to 18 April 1986. The first DE correlates well with a sector boundary crossing for the comet and a group of DEs that occurred approximately a day later could have produced by polarity reversals seen in the IMP-8 data. Thus, these DEs are consistent with the frontside, magnetic reconnection mechanism
The Colors of Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy Globular Cluster Systems, Nuclei and Stellar Halos
We present the results of a Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 F555W and F814W
survey of 69 dwarf elliptical galaxies (dEs) in the Virgo and Fornax Clusters
and Leo Group. The colors of the dE globular clusters, nuclei, and
underlying field star populations are used to trace the dE star-formation
histories. We find that the dE globular cluster candidates are as blue as the
metal-poor globular clusters of the Milky Way. The observed correlation of the
dE globular cluster systems' color with the luminosity of the host dE is
strong evidence that the globular clusters were formed within the the halos of
dEs and do not have a pre-galactic origin. Assuming the majority of dE clusters
are old, the mean globular cluster color- host galaxy luminosity correlation
implies a cluster metallicity galaxy luminosity relation of , which is significantly shallower than the field star
metallicity - host galaxy luminosity relationship observed in Local Group
dwarfs (). The dE stellar envelopes are
magnitudes redder in than their globular clusters and nuclei. This color
offset implies separate star-formation episodes within the dEs for the clusters
and field stars, while the very blue colors of two dE nuclei trace a third
star-formation event in those dEs less than a Gyr ago.Comment: 39 pages, including 5 tables and 10 figures; accepted by the
Astrophysical Journa
A SAURON study of dwarf elliptical galaxies in the Virgo Cluster: kinematics and stellar populations
Dwarf elliptical galaxies (dEs) are the most common galaxy type in nearby
galaxy clusters; even so, many of their basic properties have yet to be
quantified. Here we present the results of our study of 4 Virgo dwarf
ellipticals obtained with the SAURON integral field unit on the William
Herschel Telescope (La Palma, Spain). While traditional long-slit observations
are likely to miss more complicated kinematic features, with SAURON we are able
to study both kinematics and stellar populations in two dimensions, obtaining a
much more detailed view of the mass distribution and star formation histories.
What is visible even in such a small sample is that dEs are not a uniform
group, not only morphologically, but also as far as their kinematic and stellar
population properties are concerned. We find the presence of substructures,
varying degrees of flattening and of rotation, as well as differences in age
and metallicity gradients. We confirm that two of our galaxies are
significantly flattened, yet non-rotating objects, which makes them likely
triaxial systems. The comparison between the dwarf and the giant groups shows
that dEs could be a low-mass extension of Es in the sense that they do seem to
follow the same trends with mass. However, dEs as progenitors of Es seem less
likely as we have seen that dEs have much lower abundance ratios.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures; to appear in the proceedings of the JENAM 2010
Symposium on Dwarf Galaxies (Lisbon, September 9-10, 2010); minor edits and
references adde
Dwarf elliptical galaxies in Centaurus A group: stellar populations in AM 1339-445 and AM 1343-452
We study the red giant populations of two dE galaxies, AM 1339-445 and AM
1343-452, with the aim of investigating the number and luminosity of any upper
asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars present. The galaxies are members of the
Centaurus A group (D~3.8 Mpc) and are classified as outlying (R~350 kpc)
satellites of Cen A. The analysis is based on near-IR photometry for individual
red giant stars, derived from images obtained with ISAAC on the VLT. The
photometry, along with optical data derived from WFPC2 images retrieved from
the HST science archive, enable us to investigate the stellar populations of
the dEs in the vicinity of the red giant branch (RGB) tip. In both systems we
find stars above the RGB tip, which we interpret as intermediate-age upper-AGB
stars. The presence of such stars is indicative of extended star formation in
these dEs similar to that seen in many, but not all, dEs in the Local Group.
For AM 1339-445, the brightest of the upper-AGB stars have Mbol~-4.5 while
those in AM 1343-452 have Mbol~-4.8 mag. These luminosities suggest ages of
approximately 6.5+/-1 and 4+/-1 Gyr as estimates for the epoch of the last
episode of significant star formation in these systems. In both cases the
number of upper-AGB stars suggests that ~15% of the total stellar population is
in the form of intermediate-age stars, considerably less than is the case for
outlying dE satellites of the Milky Way such as Fornax and LeoI.Comment: 18 pages, 19 figures, A&A accepted; high resolution version available
from: http://www.eso.org/~mrejkuba/CenA_dEs_I.pd
Ethnic identity in West Africa. Historical perspectives on America\u27s discourse about ethnicity
Political Correctness and Affirmative Action are core issues of America’s difficult search for cultural identity. However, a policy of differential treatment of categorized ethnicities is likely to cause complex and dynamic identities to become static and one-dimensional. This in turn is a factor of social destabilization. The basic assumption of ethnicity as a fixed social or racial category is not only an over-simplification, but a policy focussing on group rights changes the character of the groups themselves and even stimulates growing isolation between them. The paper’s argumentation is based on observations on the historical process of group identity-forming in Western African societies. They provide the example of how ethnic identity is a matter of dynamic constellations, of change, of interaction, of conscious and unconscious negotiation and choice, both on the group level and on the individual level.Hintergrund der Argumentation des Autors "ist die Bewegung für \u27Political Correctness\u27 und \u27Affirmative Action\u27 in den USA. Als eine ihrer Konsequenzen impliziert sie den grundsätzlichen Antagonismus zwischen verschiedenen kulturellen Identitäten, der im gegebenen politischen Kontext virulent wird und den anderen nicht mehr an der eigenen Kultur teilhaben läßt bzw. zur Wahl für oder gegen zwingt. Gestützt auf eigene empirische Untersuchungen und ethnographische Feldforschung über die Normalität mehrsprachiger und plurikultueller Enkulturation in traditionellen afrikanischen Gesellschaften vertritt er das Konzept nicht-determinierter, dynamischer, nicht-ausschließlicher kultureller Identitäten." (DIPF/Orig.
Fruitgrowers towards a new approach to enhance biodiversity in organic orchards
In the frame of the project “Arbeitsnetz zur Weiterentwicklung der Anbauverfahren des
ökologischen Obstbaus” (BOEL-project Nr. 03OE178) a group of fruitgrowers and advicers
started to discuss new measures and new concepts to enhance biodiversity in organic
orchards. Strips with flowering plants that can be integrated in the normal mulching system
and thus, do not originate vole problems, are actually tested on the farms. Other measures
as single bushes at the top and end of the rows are in discussion.
If such measures are to be integrated successfully in the practice of organic fruit growing,
the impulse must spring from growers themselves and their requirements regarding the
different risks must be considered. Otherwise, an acceptance in practice is not very
probable. This activites are reported here since we want more people to join us
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